Early Church - Church Government

What is church government?

how the church is organised in terms of leadership and ministry

Who are apostles?

an important early christian teacher or pioneering missionary

Who is an itinerant?

a person who travels from place to place

Did Jesus provide a patter of church government?

No

Who did Jesus appoint as authoritative representatives?

12 apostles

What does Matthew 18:18 say?

Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

What does Matthew 16:18 say?

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

What does Matthew 16:18 mean?

Peter is appointed as the leading apostle

What does NT Wright state about Peter’s appointment?

Peter was the ‘first among equals’ suggesting a collegial rather than purely monarchical approach

How does leadership evolve in the book of acts?

Evolves from the initial itinerant oversight of the apostles to a system that met growing administrative and local needs

What happens in Acts 6?

Appointment of the seven

What was the need for the appointment of the seven?

as the church grew, so did its administrative needs. the apostles found it challenging to both preach and manage pastoral needs of the people. so to assist, the apostles appointed a further seven men to oversee distribution of food and other needs to the widows. (forms basis of the deacon)

What happens in Acts 15?

The Council of Jerusalem

What is the importance of the council of jerusalem?

Role of James, brother of Jesus, is crucial. His leadership during this council underscores an evolving, collaborative decision making process regarding theological disputes.

Who appoints Localised elders?

Paul and Barnabas in Acts 14

Acts 14:23?

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust

What were the elders in the church of Ephesus called?

‘Bishop’- greek for overseer, who are to pastor their flock

What is the Mosaic ministry in the NT?

a “fascinating mosaic” of charismatic gifts alongside official roles. We see both a charismatic ministry of various gifts of the spirit as well as an official ministry of leadership

What does Gordon D Fee argue?

“in communities like Corinth, spiritual gifts were diverse and there was no stringent hierarchal structure; leadership was based on those with the gift of leadership rather than a formal ordained clergy”

Two orders of ministry in churches in NT?

Bishops (teaching) and Deacons (pastoral)

Other features of NT Church government?

• female deacons

• deacons and bishops had to be of highest moral character and bishops able to teach

What does ephesians 2:20 say?

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

What does ephesians 2:20 mean?

the church’s foundation is built on the apostles and prophets

Who are the apostolic fathers?

Clement of Rome, Didache, Ignatius.

When was 1st Clement written?

late 1st century letter from Rome

What was the hierarchy of leadership in the church in Corinth?

Twofold Ministry of bishops and deacons- hierarchy of leadership did exist, nothing had changed since NT

What is Clement the first to mention?

Apostolic succession

What did Clement say about apostolic succession?

“so then Christ is from God and the Apostles are from Christ”

What approach to decision making did Clement command?

Collaborative approach- succession of bishop’s office where other approved men should succeed their ministry. The appointment of such leaders required the approval of the whole church

How did Clement develop the idea of apostolic succession?

A continuous lineage of ordained ministers paved the way for the development of the doctrine of apostolic succession

What does JB Lightfoot say about Clement?

Clement’s letter ‘is pivotal in understanding the shift from a more congregational church governance to a structured, hierarchal one’

What is the Didache?

an ancient anonymous Christian manual written in Greek during the late first or early second century CE

What does the Didache reveal?

there are tensions between the apostles/prophets who were travelling around preaching in the churches and the local resident ministers

What does the Didache tell us about the development of the episcopacy?

Resident ministers were to be appointed by the churches, ‘Appoint, therefore, for yourselves, bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord’

What was the requirement for Bishops and deacons in the Didache?

Must be morally upright in character